Cryptic coloration is the ability of an animal to blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult to spot. Synonyms for this term include camouflage, mimicry, and concealment. Camouflage is a general term used to describe any pattern or coloration that helps an animal blend into its surroundings. Mimicry involves an animal imitating the appearance of another organism or object in order to avoid detection or prey on unsuspecting prey. Concealment refers to any tactic or behavior an animal uses to hide itself from predators or potential prey. Each of these synonyms is commonly used in evolutionary biology to describe the adaptations that animals have evolved to survive in their surroundings.